Chris Brown Ditches All-Star Weekend Following His Recent Arrest (With Updates)

Can't say we didn't see this coming. E! Online is reporting that Chris Brown has canceled his participation in a few of this weekend's festivities surrounding the NBA All-Star Game. The 19-year-old R&B artist was arrested early Sunday morning in connection with an alleged assault of his main squeeze, pop...

By Benjamin Leatherman

February 9, 2009

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Can't say we didn't see this coming.

E! Online is reporting that Chris Brown has canceled his participation in a few of this weekend's festivities surrounding the NBA All-Star Game. The 19-year-old R&B artist was arrested early Sunday morning in connection with an alleged assault of his main squeeze, pop vocalist Rihanna.

In addition to appearing at this Sunday's All-Star Game at US Airways Center, Brown was also scheduled to participate in the NBA's Celebrity Game on Friday. It's currently unknown whether he will also put the kibosh on pair of parties/performances he was planning to make at the Corona Ranch in Laveen on Friday and Club Rain in Scottsdale on Saturday. (UPDATE: Brown has been replaced by Nelly at both parties).

Brown already ducked out of an appearance at Sunday's Grammy Awards due to his arrest. Wrigley Chewing Gum also pulled their commercial featuring the singer earlier today.

Brown was booked into L.A. Country Jail on Sunday, charged with making criminal threats after he reportedly committed felony battery on an unknown female (who the L.A. Times later identified as Rihanna).

TMZ is also reporting that the pop singer's injuries from the alleged assault are "horrific," including various contusions and bruises.

Hope you have a good lawyer on retainer, Chris.

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Benjamin Leatherman is a staff writer for Phoenix New Times where he focuses primarily on arts, culture, music, and nightlife. He began writing for New Times in 2003 and joined the staff full-time in 2005. Prior to that, he contributed to magazines such as Tips & Tricks and The Wrestler. Benjamin has earned multiple awards from the Arizona Press Club including an award for sports enterprise reporting in 2009 and an award for statewide arts reporting in 2014. He holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Contact: Benjamin Leatherman

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